The Uptown Acorn: French Quarter Festival 2013

And it’s that time of year again! It’s time for my favorite festival, French Quarter Fest.

French Quarter Fest - The Facts!

In 2013 - French Quarter Festival celebrates its 30th Anniversary
French Quarter Festival was first produced in 1984 as a way to bring residents back to the Quarter; following the World’s Fair and extensive sidewalk repairs in the French Quarter.
More than 2,000 community volunteers help to make the festival a success.
French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is a private, non-profit 501(c)3 organization.
French Quarter Festival is the largest, free music festival in the South.
Chief sources of funding are: sponsorships, beverage and merchandise sales, vendor fees, and the Gala in April.
21 stages throughout the French Quarter celebrate local music and represent every genre from traditional and contemporary jazz to R&B, New Orleans funk, brass bands, folk, gospel, latin, zydeco, classical, cabaret, and international.
New Orleans great restaurants, create the “World’s Largest Jazz Brunch” in Jackson Square, the Old U.S. Mint and Woldenberg Riverfront Park during festival weekend; Satchmo SummerFest hosts “Red Bean Alley” with Satchmo-inspired dishes and great local cuisine. Only local restaurants are invited to participate in these festivals.
French Quarter Festival has been consistently voted “favorite festival”, “favorite food festival”, and “favorite event open to the public” by locals.

Attendance Overview

French Quarter Festival 2012 attendance - over 574,000 people
French Quarter Festival attendees are 49% locals and 51% visitors
Visitors from as many as 37 states have attended FQF. Top 5 states - Louisiana, California, New York, Texas, Florida
Visitors from as many as 12 countries have attended FQF: top Countries - Canada, United Kingdom, Norway, France, Germany

Economic Impact

According to an analysis of the French Quarter Festival Visitors Survey conducted by The University of New Orleans (UNO) Hospitality Research Center, French Quarter Festival 2012 generated a total economic impact of more than $259.5 million, including $126.6 million in direct spending and $132.9 million in secondary spending. Additionally, the event generated over $18.3 million in state and local tax revenue.
FQF employs more than 1,400 local musicians during Festival weekend
FQF hosts over 60 local restaurants which make up the “World’s Largest Jazz Brunch” at the Festival.
FQF employs only local companies during the Festival (sanitation, stages, sound, security, etc.). All money spent to produce the festival stays within the local economy.